Election Commission To Announce Poll Dates Of Five States Today (image- twitter/rajivkumarec)

The Election Commission (EC) will announce the poll schedule for five states- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram today. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will hold a press conference at 12 noon to announce the poll dates.

The announcement will also include details of the dates for various stages of electoral process, including the filing of nominations, polling days, and the declaration of results. The EC recently had completed its poll preparedness review for the five states.

Usually, the poll dates are announced six to eight weeks before the term of the legislative assembly expires. The term of legislative assembly of Telangana will end on December 17, while for the other four states, terms end in the month of January.

It was earlier reported by India today, that the polls in five states are likely to be held in between mid- November and first week of December.

The Election Commissioner held a meeting on last Friday with general, police, and expenditure observers for the assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. In the meeting, EC has asked to ensure that the menace of money power is controlled thoroughly, reports Hindustan Times.

In an official statement, while addressing a briefing meeting, he directed the commissioner’s observers to ensure a level playing field by working in coordinated manner to ensure free, fair and inducement-free elections. Kumar also added that the commission is focusing on a compassionate approach, facilitating the participation of persons with disabilities (PwD), senior citizens (80 and above), and particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG). In order to achieve this goal, special provisions such as home voting and accessible polling stations will be implemented.

These elections in five states will be a crucial test for ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) after their defeat in Karnataka election. While the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) rules Telangana and Madhya Pradesh is ruled by BJP. Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Mizoram is ruled by The Mizo National Front, an ally of BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently visited the poll-bound states of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan.